Nintendo Direct unleashes a surge of Nintendo 3DS news

Nintendo unlocked a treasure trove of information for its portable Nintendo
3DS system today. In a Nintendo Direct video, Nintendo discussed
more than a dozen games for the system, including a StreetPass
Mii Plaza update and some Nintendo eShop exclusives that launch
today. Among the highlights were a portable Super
Mario Maker game launching this year, Pikmin and Yoshi’s
Woolly World games launching in 2017, and a newly announced Mario
Sports Superstars game for 2017. Nintendo also revealed awesome new amiibo
figures for Yoshi’s Woolly World on Nintendo 3DS and The
Legend of Zelda, as well as a new set of amiibo cards for Animal
Crossing fans.

“After emerging as the best-selling video game system in the United
States in July, Nintendo 3DS has clear momentum going into the fall, the
holiday season and 2017,” said Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s Senior
Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “With so much news about the
system hitting at once, everyone should find something to love. If you
haven’t already, it’s a great time to jump into the fun of Nintendo 3DS.”

Pikmin for Nintendo 3DS (name not final): A new
side-scrolling Pikmin adventure game unlike Pikmin games
of the past is coming to Nintendo 3DS. Pikmin follow Olimar around, and
players tap the touch screen where they want to throw them. This is
designed as an action game that makes players think fast and use every
Pikmin to overcome anything that stands in their way. The game is
scheduled to launch in 2017.

The Legend of Zelda: Fans will have plenty of chances to
celebrate the 30th anniversary of the legendary series this fall. A
sampling of the products on the way includes:

This holiday season Nintendo will release four special amiibo figures:
8-Bit Link, Ocarina of Time Link and a two-pack that includes both
Toon Link and Zelda from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.
These amiibo will work the same as Super Smash Bros. series
Link, Toon Link and Zelda amiibo, and will also have special
functionality in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild when
it launches next year.

Mario Sports Superstars: This five-sport compilation is
scheduled to launch next spring. The game includes full-fledged versions
of baseball, tennis, golf, horse racing and 11-on-11 soccer games. The
game includes single-player tournaments for each sport, plus local and
online multiplayer modes.

Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS: Now Nintendo 3DS
owners will have access to a near-unlimited wealth of Super Mario
courses to play! Players can also create courses with nearly all the
tools available in the original Wii U version, along with interactive
lessons. In a feature unique to the Nintendo 3DS version, friends who
each have their own game and system can collaborate on level designs by
sharing them with one another locally before they’re complete. While
courses can’t be shared online, players can connect to the internet to
download and play select courses from the Wii U version. Additionally,
the game—which is scheduled to launch Dec. 2—includes 100
Nintendo-designed courses with new challenges, like collecting every
coin or defeating all enemies.

Poochy& Yoshi’s Woolly World: This
gorgeous Wii U game is making its way to Nintendo 3DS. This version
contains some new features, plus every stage available in the original.
Exclusive new stages focus on Poochy: Players must time Poochy’s jump to
collect beads, and Poochy Pups as they head for the goal. Poochy Pups
are curious little helpers who jump on suspicious spots to indicate
where players should look for secrets and collectables. Nintendo and
Japanese stop-motion animation studio Dwarf are collaborating on 30
animated shorts featuring Yoshi and Poochy that will be included in the
Nintendo 3DS version of the game. A yarn amiibo figure of Poochy will
launch at the same time as the game on Feb. 3, 2017.

StreetPass Mii Plaza: A new update adds a Quick Plaza to
streamline StreetPass gameplay. StreetPass Mii Plaza Premium members can
now use the new “Line” feature to hold up to 100 encountered players’
Mii characters instead of 10. Five new, fast-paced StreetPass games are
also launching at $2.99 each: Slot Car Rivals, Market Crashers,
Feed Mii, Mii Trek and Ninja Launcher. Everyone who
downloads the StreetPass Mii Plaza update can choose to get either Slot
Car Rivals or Market Crashers for free, while the four other
new games will be available in a special discounted bundle for just
$8.99. All of this launches shortly after the Nintendo Direct.

Picross 3D Round 2: In this new version of the puzzling
favorite, blocks can be painted with two colors of paint to reveal more
elaborate shapes. Using the numbers as hints, players can search for the
hidden object in more than 300 puzzles. Tapping compatible amiibo
figures might uncover secret Nintendo characters. A free demo will be
available shortly after the Nintendo Direct in Nintendo eShop, along
with the full game at $29.99.

Ever
Oasis: Koichi Ishii of Grezzo is the producer and the
director of the game, and character design is done by famed illustrator
Yoshinori Shizuma. Ever Oasis takes place in a sprawling desert
with the oasis at its heart. Travelers with different wants, needs and
wishes will visit the oasis. Players must head into the desert and
locate dungeons. Allies with specific weapons and unique skill sets will
join and strengthen the team. Items claimed in the desert can be used as
materials to craft items to sell at shops in the game, or give to
certain travelers. The game is scheduled to launch in 2017.

TANK TROOPERS: This newly announced game lets players customize
their tank through special characteristics of tank-pilot Troopers,
enabling abilities such as hitting enemies with a freeze attack,
launching paint balls to block the opponents’ views or using electric
shocks to stall rival tanks where they stand. The game offers a
six-person multiplayer mode, along with Download Play as well.

Phoenix
Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice: The
new game puts the legendary attorney in the Kingdom of Khura’in, where
mysterious séance trials decide the fate of all defendants. The game
includes puzzling mysteries to solve, a striking cast of characters and
new investigation techniques. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit
of Justice launches Sept. 8 exclusively in Nintendo eShop.

Hyrule Warriors Legends: The third DLC pack, the Phantom
Hourglass & Spirit Tracks Pack, will be available today in the in-game
Extras menu. The pack is available for $6.99, or players can buy the
Legends of Hyrule Pack Season Pass for $14.99, including the first three
DLC packs, and the fourth once it’s released.

Animal Crossing:
New Leaf: A free new update for the 2013 game hits
this fall and expands the game by adding compatibility with the Animal
Crossing series amiibo and select figures from other series. Fans
can also watch for 50 new Animal Crossing amiibo cards to arrive
on Dec. 2. The cards feature villagers who did not appear originally and
give players a chance to bring them into their towns. Also on Dec. 2,
people who haven’t yet picked up the game can purchase a version called Animal
Crossing: New Leaf Welcome amiibo!, which includes the update and an
amiibo card. For more details, watch for an Animal Crossing-themed
Mini-Direct this fall.

Pokémon Sun and
Pokémon Moon: Some of the Pokémon found in
the Alola Region have unique looks adapted to the region’s native
environment, such as Alolan Rattata. A new element called a Z-Move is an
extremely powerful skill initiated when Pokémon and Trainer unleash
their full powers together. The type of Z-Move a Pokémon can use depends
on the type of Z-Crystal the player gives that Pokémon. As a bonus,
anyone who buys one of the games when they launch on Nov. 18 and
connects a Nintendo 3DS family system to the internet before Jan. 11,
2017, will receive Munchlax in the game, along with a “Snorlium Z”
crystal to unlock the special Z-Move known as Pulverizing Pancake. For
more details, visit http://www.Pokemon.com/SunMoon.

Mario Party Star Rush:
Think fast and have a blast with a variety of ways to party with
Mario, Toad and more! The game features seven modes, including Toad
Scramble, a mode with open maps to push your strategy, fast-paced
mini-game gantlet Coinathon or Mario Shuffle, in which players maneuver
three pieces to their opponent’s side of the board. In Toad Scramble,
everyone plays as a Toad, but Mushroom Kingdom allies are waiting around
the board to team up and take down bosses in mini-games. The game is
also compatible with the Super Mario series amiibo figures. The game
releases alongside seven new amiibo for purchase separately, including
Daisy, Waluigi and glow-in-the-dark Boo, on Nov. 4.

Dragon Quest VII:
Fragments of the Forgotten Past: This renewed classic
has been completely remade with many hours of new content. The
StreetPass feature allows players to swap Traveller’s Tablets to access
special dungeons and items. Through online distributions, players can
encounter new monsters, explore new dungeons and even obtain unique
items. Anyone who pre-orders the game before it launches Sept. 16
exclusively on Nintendo 3DS will receive a free Dragon Quest VII
menu theme.

Sonic
Boom: Fire & Ice: The Nintendo 3DS game includes
modes for both single-player and two-player competitions. With a return
to speed, the game harnesses the tone of the popular Sonic Boom
animated series and also forges a new path in order to tell its own
story. The game launches exclusively on Nintendo 3DS on Sept. 27 and
comes with a three-episode Sonic Boom DVD.

YO-KAI WATCH 2: Bony
Spirits and YO-KAI WATCH 2: Fleshy Souls:
Travel to the past to witness the origin of the Yo-kai Watch and put an
end to an age-old war between two Yo-kai factions! Discover the Yo-kai
Watch Model Zero, which gives players two new tactics that make for more
strategic battles. Each version also has many unique Yo-kai. Hailing
from ancient Japan, the leader of the Bony Spirits faction is Arachnus,
who harbors a spidery secret. As for Fleshy Souls, the leader is Toadal
Dude, the essence of a toad who lived for several centuries thanks to
his fresh sense of style. The initial production run of the retail
versions of the game will come with a physical medal that unlocks a new
Soultimate Move for Jibanyan. The digital versions come with the ability
to battle and befriend Robonyan F or Sailornyan. The free demo version
arrives in Nintendo eShop in mid-September and the full games launch on
Sept. 30.

Disney Magical
World 2: Live your dream life alongside classic
Disney characters in six Disney-themed worlds! Anyone who pre-purchases
the title in Nintendo eShop or at select retailers will receive three
in-game Frozen outfits free for characters like Elsa, Anna and
Olaf. The game launches Oct. 14.

Shin
Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse: The game, which
launches Sept. 20, is now available for pre-order. This sequel shows
another side to the story, and takes players into the events that
follow. All first-run retail versions of the game contain a metal emblem
set as a free bonus.

New Galaxy Style New Nintendo 3DS XL: The New Nintendo 3DS system
is getting an out-of-this-world new look. The new system sports a cool
new color, with a celestial image on the cover. The system is shipping
now, and should start appearing on store shelves in the next week or so
for a suggested retail price of $199.99.

#Nindies Summer Jam and Sweepstakes: Nintendo will release a new
Wii U or Nintendo 3DS indie game each week this September in Nintendo
eShop at a reduced price for a limited time. For the next two weeks,
enter via Twitter for a chance to win all five indie games and an
opportunity to curate your own content shelf on Nintendo eShop. Nintendo
kicks off PAX West and its September Indie takeover tonight with the
Nindies@Night event at the EMP Museum. Attendees will get hands-on play
with new debuts like Runbow Pocket or Punch Club for the
Nintendo 3DS family of systems, and hear directly from several of the
developers on-site. PAX attendees are also encouraged to visit the
Nintendo Indie Booth in the Washington State Convention Center all
weekend long for more opportunities to experience the many Nindie titles
coming to Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to
residents of US, 18+. Deadline: 9/14/16. See rules @ https://www.facebook.com/Nintendo/posts/1105180552899730S.
Sponsor: Nintendo.